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Minutes after a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday for a first-of-its-kind natural-gas refueling station in west Jacksonville, Mayor Alvin Brown and City Councilman Stephen Joost said they want to put the brakes on a proposal to extend the city’s 6-cent gas tax for 20 years.

Officials touted the new natural-gas station, constructed by Clean Energy Fuels, the company co-founded by Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens, as an important development that will give the city an early piece of an emerging natural-gas market.

And that made the ribbon cutting a “great segue,” Joost said, to argue against extending the tax, which he characterized as a revenue source rapidly becoming outdated as fuel mileage standards are improving and alternative fuel markets are growing.

“The industry is changing before our very eyes,” he said.

It was a preview of sorts into the coming showdown with Council President Bill Gulliford, who last month filed legislation seeking to extend the gas tax to 2036. He said the $30 million in annual revenue generated by the tax will help finance more than $100 million in local road-construction and improvement projects.

Gulliford will file an amendment next week detailing how the money would be spent, as well as a list of road projects the tax would finance. At least some of the $153 million worth of projects that are part of the Better Jacksonville Plan — but were put on hold for lack of funding — are likely to be on that list.

Brown and Joost noted that the tax is not set to expire until 2016, meaning city officials have time to poll residents and study other potential sources of revenue.

“Why the rush?” Brown asked.

He said people are “taxed out” and suggested council members hold town hall meetings to hear directly from residents about the issue for an “honest conversation and debate.”

Although he has called for alternative funding ideas, Brown has not detailed or backed any other proposal to replace the $30 million in revenue when the tax expires. Pressed for details, he again noted that the tax is set to expire in 2016 and that there is time to find another idea.

Joost said new technology could offer an answer, such as electronic boxes that track how many miles a vehicle is driven and charge the owner accordingly.

In the meantime, however, Gulliford said borrowing rates and construction costs are low and likely to rise in the coming years, meaning the city should extend the tax now to have a guaranteed source of revenue that can finance road projects.

But if there’s a better idea, Gulliford says he’d like to hear it.

“Give me an option,” he said. “It’s easy to be against something.”

The bulk of the $30 million collected each year goes to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. The amendment Gulliford plans to file will stipulate that JTA would receive 5 cents of the gas tax. The city would get 1 cent of the tax, or about $5 million per year, to finance road maintenance and bicycle-and-pedestrian improvements.

Under the legislation, JTA also would assume operations of the St. Johns River Ferry.

The fact that fuel mileage is improving is a good thing because there are more people driving, which in turn means more gas tax.
I don’t feel “taxed out” when it comes to the gas tax. I have been paying the gas tax since 1975 when I started driving. Someone will find a way to alter the electronic boxes thereby decreasing the forecasted revenue.
If bulk of the gas tax is going to the JTA, then it’s time to re-evaluate the public transportation system. If less people are using the public transportation system perhaps we don’t need such big buses. How about giving the JTA 3 cents and city keep 2cents.
The St Johns River Ferry should have its own separate funding. Those who ride the ferry should pay for the ferry.

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3877 points

Ron_Jax80

Thursday, January 16, 2014 @ 10:25 am

I agree with Rebel. I don't want an interface on my vehicle, where I would be taxed on the number of miles driven.

I here little segments. Then all of a sudden it is here.

The same with the proposal of 15 percent ethanol, the 10 percent has already cost me too much in maintenance costs. I am hearing from the grapevine 15 percent is at some pumps in some states. I don't want it and I don't want repercussions of having to use it.

If the conversion cost to natural gas decrease, I will seriously consider converting my truck over to the same.

I would rather have the taxes per gallon extended if, it is used for the right reasons. I would rather be taxed by the gallon than by the miles, via a measuring device on my vehicle.